Living in God’s Love and Peace
Dearly beloved of God, when John baptized Jesus the holy spirit descended upon him, and there came a voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Ephesians 1:6
To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved:
God our Father made us accepted in the Beloved, the Christ.
“Accepted” is the Greek word, charitoo, which means to show grace, to highly favor. We are highly favored in Christ, the Beloved One. It is only used here and in Luke 1:28 where the angel greets Mary, “Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee….”
“Beloved” is the Greek word, agapetos. It is translated as beloved, dearly beloved, well beloved, dear, etc.
Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
By revelation from God, the Apostle Paul addresses the Church as “beloved of God, called saints.”
Romans 9: 23- 25
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee [Hosea], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Whether we were Jews or Gentiles previously in the flesh, God called us in Christ, and now we are His people, which were not previously His people, and beloved, which were not beloved. Oh, rejoice!
In the Beloved One, Jesus Christ, we are dearly beloved by God our Father so think about yourself, and about Him in the same terms as He thinks. Walk as the beloved of God your Father. Your Father is not mad at you, He dearly loves you.
If you don’t think in this manner, sooner or later your thoughts will come back to haunt you, and open the door for sin consciousness and other devilish thoughts. You are dearly beloved by God your Father.
Another wonderful aspect of God’s great love for us is peace.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peace is “eirene” in the Greek, and it means peace, rest. Jesus Christ made the peace between God and us. It is an accomplished reality so enjoy it.
Peace is rest. It is the absence of strife. It is to have undisturbed believing; we are justified, and we have the forgiveness of sins, and we have access into this grace in which we stand, and we have hope of the glory of God. Knowing these realities bring us peace.
Every Church epistle begins with “Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He said what He meant, and He meant what He said.
In Christ we have God's divine favor and we are at rest. We have ceased from our works as God rested from His on the seventh day. We have entered this sabbatical rest by believing the gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ our Lord [See Hebrews 4:1-10].
If you lose sight of who you are in Christ you will not be peaceful. You cannot focus on your past sins, your short comings, your failures, and have peace, and be at rest. Thoughts of this kind will torment you.
To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Focus on who God created you in Christ Jesus, and what he accomplished for you, and is in you. Then you will have peace [See Romans 8:5-7].
Knowing our identification with Christ and his accomplishments, and knowing our hope in him gives us peace. We will acquire the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, and let the Word concerning Christ dwell in you richly.
You cannot constantly be looking at your flesh and be at peace. You cannot keep your head in the world and be at peace. The only way to be peaceful is to look at God and His Word and believe who you are in Christ. That kind of thinking is life and life, dearly beloved of God.
If you have concerns or worries take them to the Lord in prayer. He is at hand to help you. [See Philippians 4: 4-8]. Don’t be mentally divided, anxious, or overly concerned about anything, but in everything by prayer let your requests be made known unto God. The God of Peace is with you.
II Thessalonians 3:16
Now the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
Believe it dearly beloved; it is a reality, so practice the presence of God, and live in His love for you and in His peace and rest. You are His dearly beloved, and highly favored child.